A MAN whose ear was partially sliced off in a city centre fight on Saturday was attacked with either a machete or a meat cleaver, police have revealed....

A MAN whose ear was partially sliced off in a city centre fight on Saturday was attacked with either a machete or a meat cleaver, police have revealed.

The 19-year-old Coventry man was caught up in a street fight outside the former Gala bingo hall in Hales Street at about 3.10am on Saturday.

Detectives who were initially treating the incident as attempted murder have now released more details.

Det Insp Debbie Harrod said: "The young man's injuries are not as bad as we first feared but he has undergone plastic surgery at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.

"It was an extremely nasty incident and we need anyone who was in the vicinity to come forward and help us piece together what happened."

The victim and a group of up to eight friends had left the West Indian Club in Spon Street during the early hours of Saturday, walking along Corporation Street to Hales Street.

Police believe they called in to the Eastern Treats Diner takeaway, in Hales Street, where some sort of argument may have broken out with another group of people.

Det Insp Harrod said: "We think the two incidents are connected and that the man with the machete or meat cleaver was in the takeaway at about 3am."

A fight then broke out minutes later outside the bingo hall, opposite the taxi rank outside the old fire station, in which the 19-year-old was hit over the head with what was described as a square-bladed knife.

Police are anxious to speak to people who were waiting for taxis opposite or leaving nearby restaurants and takeaways at the time.

Dc Chris Bates said the victim and at least one friend went to Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital after jumping into a black cab.

He said: "We need to speak to the driver. The lad would have been bleeding very heavily and the driver would remember picking them up."

He also believes the offender, last seen running towards Swanswell Pool, would also have been covered in blood. He is described as a man in his 20s with dark skin.

Anyone with information should call CID on 02476 539 082 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.